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Post by burke on Nov 8, 2008 14:56:29 GMT -5
Still need to paint it up and finish up the solution for the working bolt. But its externals are 99% done. I need to finish the little nub protruding from the front sight. I did things a little differently than 2ndBat (ww2airsoft association). I basically followed the Ontario directions. I used a synthetic stock kit for the front and rear handguards. I had gotten a great deal on the entire set a while back and was hoping the synthetic stock would work for a Garand stock conversion. Unfortunaetly it didnt. I used a Plastic Welding method I learned from Epyon on airsoftretreat. Its really simple, a soldering iron heated u will weld the plastic together. I worked the area welded over and over till I was sure I had asolid joint all the way thru. If I needed something filled, I used slivers from the front portion that was cut off the stock. This is a lot stronger than bondo or filler. Im tempted to actually try to weld the traditional Garand hump on the stock itself. The thing that I think makes my Conversion a little bit special is the usage of the front of the M14 stock. I pried off the metal band and chopped the stock flush as you would with normal conversions. Instead of mounting the handguard band on the flushness I went back to the piece of stock I had discarded. The U-shaped protusions underneath the metal band fit perfectly into the Garand sling swivle piece. So I chopped off the U-shaped joint and Plastic welded it to my already cut down Stock. This allows everythign to mount very cleanly and solidly, especially in combination with the gas cyclinders set screw.. I have no reservations suing the front sling swivle. Garand Front end with #6-32 set screw holding it all together. Tap was cheap at Home depot Butt with Garand plate. Rear of stock was plastic welded. Side dots plastic welded and filled Entire front end Closeup of grips together Plastic welded stock. Grips and stock showing how they go together
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Sgt_Tom
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Post by Sgt_Tom on Nov 9, 2008 14:48:59 GMT -5
Hey it looks really nice. I'll have to look into that plastic welding.
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Post by burke on Nov 9, 2008 21:28:15 GMT -5
It is very very easy. Just use a soldering iron and work the plastic. You kinda push down and work in and out and the plastic bubbles and fizzes and fuses together. Just wear a mask and do it in a well ventilated area.
I appreciate the comment.
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KRaddatz
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Post by KRaddatz on Nov 9, 2008 22:04:29 GMT -5
Ah yes! finally someone else figured out how to add the sling ferrule, i did this when i made mine and its pretty easy, except i just filed it down to that.
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click
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Post by click on Nov 10, 2008 2:10:46 GMT -5
Nice work!
Click
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Sgt_Tom
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Post by Sgt_Tom on Nov 10, 2008 7:36:20 GMT -5
Unfortunately I threw my cut off sling mount in the trash. I guess I may be able to get one from 2nd Bat or someone else who has one left over. Just one question the handguards you have look kind of like they are plastic. Do you know why that is?
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Seff
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Post by Seff on Nov 10, 2008 8:47:25 GMT -5
Because they ARE plastic - he bought resin handguards instead of wood ones.
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Sgt_Tom
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Post by Sgt_Tom on Nov 10, 2008 9:59:23 GMT -5
Where did you get the resin Handguards?
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Post by burke on Nov 10, 2008 16:23:37 GMT -5
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KRaddatz
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Post by KRaddatz on Nov 11, 2008 18:04:27 GMT -5
you can still get original wood on ebay with metal for both around 45$
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2nd Bat
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 11, 2008 23:02:09 GMT -5
Looks great. With some extra effort and time you can file and shape the actual Garand Ferrule so your bolt will slam forward and back. I would recommend you fill the M14 bolt release channel in the M14 stock and remove the M-14 bolt release along with filling the stripper clip channel so the receiver group area looks a little better. The butt area on your stock looks great.
Typically WW2 rifle wood wasn;t a perfect match but was genrally closer than the spread between your lower stock and the acrylic handguards. I'd suggest you stain your stock to a darker shade to more closely match the handguards. With that and a few final touches your Garand will look truly outstanding.
It looks great as it is. Nice effort! How does it shoot and feel overall?
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Post by burke on Nov 12, 2008 5:28:10 GMT -5
Shoots and feels solid. Base was a Cyma m14 so its the better of the clones. Thats a great idea about the bolt and receiver area. I may just do that this weekend.
Im planning on painting the stock and grips just need the time to do it. Im also going to match the outer barrel and receiver to the garand parts. Im just waiting on some paint to do it.
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2nd Bat
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 15, 2008 4:33:32 GMT -5
I'd recommend in your case a light wash of Burnt Umber acrylic paint on your lower stock layering until the match is complete. Once dried and if it meets your criteria, paint a clear coat of dull finish to protect the revision. Show us your work once finished. The paint and clear coat will be under $10.00 and the acrylic is water based so easy to use. Just wipe it on with a rag and wipe down until it looks right.
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Post by burke on Dec 7, 2008 13:30:18 GMT -5
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Sgt_Tom
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Post by Sgt_Tom on Dec 7, 2008 15:04:55 GMT -5
Looks great but I have a few suggestions. It would look more Garand like if you removed the metal piece that sits over the selector switch and sits under the operating rod. Do you plan on bondoing the stock or sanding the scope mount attachments on the reciever? Anyways nice job and good to see another AEG M1 Garand! Hey do you live in the Midwest?
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Post by CharleyNovember on Dec 7, 2008 15:49:40 GMT -5
I have a question. When I fit all the pieces together I end up with a gap at the front of the M14 outer barrel where it meets the front sight assembly. I notice in other people's tutorials they suggest cutting the lower hand guard down by an inch or some sort of thing. Does that not make the gun a little tiny bit shorter than the real thing? I went about it another way I made and installed a new longer outer barrel instead of cutting down the handguard. Oh and I will get around to posting mine sooner or later too I guess.
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Seff
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Post by Seff on Dec 7, 2008 15:52:51 GMT -5
Looks great but I have a few suggestions. It would look more Garand like if you removed the metal piece that sits over the selector switch and sits under the operating rod. Do you plan on bondoing the stock or sanding the scope mount attachments on the reciever? Anyways nice job and good to see another AEG M1 Garand! Hey do you live in the Midwest? I dunno, that piece is the one making sure the bolt doesn't slam too hard on the AGM model, I'd be cautious if you plan on using the bolt much. On the Cyma there's a buffer spring, so it's less important. I seem to remember a piece that helped keep the bolt in the track, is that the one?
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2nd Bat
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Post by 2nd Bat on Dec 7, 2008 16:41:04 GMT -5
You can remove the "slide support" and it will indeed look more Garand like. If you do so you'll have to fill the stock indentation or there will be a gap. Also as Seff indicated if you eliminate it you will place greater stress of the bolt action. Thus far there hasn't been any detrimental effects reported on the ones I've done that to. It's really the individuals option and how much effort they want to extend. Like so many things most people would never notice it.
As for the overall length, the M14 butt stock is slightly longer than a Garand so if you keep the handguard at it's normal length in addition to the barrel needing to be longer to attach, you end up with a greater overall length than an actual Garand. The stock also ends up looking substantially thinner than a Garand. (In my opinion) I find since the M14 base stock is more svelt than a Garand it ends up both too thin looking and absolutely too long. By shortening the stock further, along with the upper handguard the overall visual impact is more appropriate and your total overall length is virtually identical to an actual Garand.
With regard to Burkes effort. I think it looks great. You've done a really nice job. The re-do on the "wood" was well done and makes a big difference. Ultimately you want to probably do the receiver details but the overall effect is very, very good indeed. One comment is that in looking at hundreds and hundreds of actual, vintage Garands I find that the receiver groups seldom show the weathering we often see on the gas assemblies. There is generally a more uniform finish still in place. The receiver group and bolt do not receive the heat impacts that the gas reservoir assembly does. Hence if you get a chance to redo the receiver group (maybe after filling in the stripper clip area and other receiver group enhancements) you might want to go with a less weathered finish. This comment should be taken as the nitpicking it is because your rifle looks great!
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Sgt_Tom
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Post by Sgt_Tom on Dec 7, 2008 16:51:12 GMT -5
I think your right seff because my brothers bolt broke off but I don't like the way it looks with it on so I'll have to find another way to keep it from breaking. 2nd Bat thanks for mentioning that I never knew that. I might have to try shortening my garands butt stock.
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Post by burke on Dec 7, 2008 16:56:45 GMT -5
Thanx 2ndbat! Coming from you thats a hell of a compliment. In the future I will go back over and do the receiver modifications. I wasnt aware of the limited wearing on the receiver so ill check more pictures when i redo it.
To be honest right now Im happy with the way it is. I know its not 100% and I can and will eventually get closer but at the moment it will stay as is. I have almost 20 magazines I need to get done before mid january and works at its busiest time so Im hoping to just get those done by my deadline.
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2nd Bat
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Post by 2nd Bat on Dec 8, 2008 0:50:50 GMT -5
SgtTom think long and hard about the ramifications of shortening the butt stock. The butt plate will no longer readily fit (Either modifying the existing one or the actual Garand Butt plate if you use one. Your rear sling hardware will no longer be authentically positioned. The revised shape of the butt stock will be off more than it helps.
Burke you need not apologize for anything. You first posted the effort on the 8th of Nov and less than a month later you're virtually done. Your rifle looks great. You're encouraging others to get out and do it and by this time next year I want to see another 30 do it yourself Garands! Who knows maybe even Sgt Tom will be done with his by then?
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Sgt_Tom
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Post by Sgt_Tom on Dec 8, 2008 8:11:08 GMT -5
Well I am being held up because I lost the screw on my dremel tool and the tool is useless without it. I can't find a replacement screw so I am dead in the water. If the dremel was working I couldn't finish the receiver anyway because I have no paint and my mom hasn't had time to take me to the hobbyshop and buy some. I also need a buttplate which I hopefully will get at my next gunshow. I also need to borrow a solder gun from my Grandpa so I can fill in the whole on the buttplate. So in conclusion I need a drivers license ;D Hey Burke do you have a CYMA or an AGM M14 I am asking because mine doesn't have the left and right markings on the sight adjuster.
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Post by burke on Dec 8, 2008 11:13:42 GMT -5
Cyma m14.
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Sgt_Tom
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Post by Sgt_Tom on Dec 8, 2008 12:37:06 GMT -5
Nice I wish I would have got one of them instead of the AGM. Taking that thin metal piece off, thats under the receiver and over the selector switch, is really easy all you have to do is unscrew two screws. It really adds to the M1 Garand look.
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Post by burke on Dec 8, 2008 19:31:30 GMT -5
For now Im gonna keep it selectable.
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Sgt_Tom
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Post by Sgt_Tom on Dec 9, 2008 9:11:39 GMT -5
It has nothing to do with the selector switch. I guess I am just not able to explain it well. I'll try to get a picture up later today.
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Post by CharleyNovember on Dec 9, 2008 9:16:53 GMT -5
Sgt Tom ~ Please until we see your awesome conversion could you stop giving advice on how to make other peoples Garand conversion so much better? It's just a little bit irritating. Kind of like someone telling someone how to make that airborne impression perfect yet we have never seen that persons impression. I don't mean this to sound harsh and I know it will come off as that anyways but just a little less helpful advice just a little.
and no I am not the only person thinking this I am just the only person posting it for you to read.
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Sgt_Tom
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Post by Sgt_Tom on Dec 9, 2008 13:01:16 GMT -5
I understand. I guess I should cool my posting down. Hopefully I'll get a camera for Christmas.
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